Objective:

Identify the livelihoods that contribute to overcoming rural food poverty.

Methodology:

The research was carried out in three communities in Zacapoaxtla, Puebla. A questionnaire was applied to a sample of 96 households with indigenous characteristics. Multivariate analysis was used to generate an index of livelihoods on a scale from zero to one, which was correlated with the food poverty line.

Results:

The maximum value of the livelihood index corresponded to physical capital and the lowest, natural capital. The Tobit regression model showed that financial, social, human and physical capitals were significant in explaining food poverty. Initially, the food and non-food poverty lines were considered, but in the sample only a couple of cases reached the latter.

Limitations:

The measurement of food poverty used an indirect approach, based on household income. However, a multidimensional method could better explain the poverty status of households.

Conclusions:

Financial capital contributed the most to overcoming the rural food poverty line, due to government support and remittances. Natural capital did not contribute significantly due to the size of the property, rainfed regime and technology.

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